This story originally appeared in a special edition of USA TODAY Sports Weekly: NFL Forecast 2022. On newsstands now.
The Chicago Bears are nearing the end of their offseason program with Organized Team Activities and veteran minicamp happening over the next couple of weeks.
There’s not a lot of confidence in this Bears team, which has to do with concerns on offense and defense as new head coach Matt Eberflus steps in. The biggest question revolves around second-year quarterback Justin Fields’ development considering his unproven supporting cast. While the defense added a pair of impact rookies in Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, they lost a number of veteran starters this offseason.
Here are three burning questions facing the Bears ahead of the 2022 season:
1
Can Justin Fields break out in Year 2?
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Following a rocky rookie season, all eyes are on Fields, who enters the season as the starter. The expectation is that Fields will take a step forward in his development, especially now that former HC Matt Nagy is out of the picture. But Fields will also be learning his second offense in as many years under new OC Luke Getsy.
There are concerns about whether the Bears have actually done enough to help Fields this offseason. While other young quarterbacks are surrounded with weapons, it’s hard not to be concerned when Chicago’s receiving corps is led by Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle and third-round rookie Velus Jones Jr. The Bears also have questions on the offensive line, including a hole at right guard, and the emphasis should be on making things easier for their young QB.
With that said, Bears GM Ryan Poles believes that a new offense and coaching staff will go a long way in helping Fields make a leap . HC Matt Eberflus explained earlier this offseason that Getsy’s offense is “very quarterback-friendly” and that Fields already feels…